Man charged after police say he was behind the wheel of a car involved in a fatal wreck
A man who police say was driving the Dodge Challenger involved in a fatal three-car crash in North Miami and then took off before officers arrived has been arrested.
Jahmel Minott Jr. was arrested Tuesday and charged with leaving the scene of a crash resulting in a death, vehicular homicide, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury, and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident with property damage.
His bond information was not available Tuesday night.
The violent wreck that left one man dead and one critically injured happened at around 2:20 a.m. Monday in the area of Northwest Seventh Avenue and Northwest 119th Street.
Police said Monday that a red and white Dodge Challenger was heading north on Northwest Seventh Avenue, a white Range Rover was going west on Northwest 119th Street, and a black Infiniti sedan was traveling south on Northwest Seventh Avenue — attempting to make a left turn — when the accident happened.
Police said Tuesday that the man — whom they have not identified — killed in the Challenger was the passenger. Local reports say family and friends have identified the man as Fabian Gonzalez.
On Tuesday, Major Kessler Brooks, the spokesman for North Miami police, said witness accounts, video and an area canvass led detectives to determine that Minott was behind the wheel at the time of the crash.
“He was there, he was in the vehicle and he left,” Brooks said. “He did avail himself to us.”
It was not clear Tuesday how Minott left the scene of the crash.
Brooks said detectives were still trying to determine what caused the crash and have not yet ruled out drag racing.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).
This story was originally published February 1, 2022 at 9:28 PM.
